#topic: denial

[sys-advice-corner]

Is there any way to break out of the self-fakeclaiming cycle? It feels like every time we make progress, we end up shrinking back because our host is extremely self-conscious and hyper doubts everything. We wanna reach out but our communication is poor, and no matter what we do they end up getting in a rut about it later and it resets our progress by weeks at a time. We mostly just wanna know how to get them to, like. Not do that anymore

[PT: Welcome! Please, take a seat.]

There are three things main things that have helped us:

Tracking symptoms (as we've previously spoken a bit on)

Reminding oneself that, while there are things that are required for the formation of a system, the way it presents can vastly vary between different systems.

Though they are assessments are most often very poor indicators of this, one of our previous hosts found comfort in doing professional-level self-assessments. Amnesia can make reliable answers a bit difficult, and if they are prone to compulsions, it's best to tread lightly, but it may prove helpful.

Denial is a major part of any sort of traumagenic disorder (note: this is in fact a medical term!), and CDDs are no different. Take small steps. Acknowledge the little wins. Find community where you can.

[PT: The owner of this blog is anti-endo, anti-radqueer, and anti-proship. If you are a supporter of these, kindly do not interact!]

[sys-advice-corner]

Multiple of our alters have returned to an extreme state of denial because we recently had our first assessment that was slightly related to DID and the collage student who was doing the assessments said we didn't have DID. We've done a lot of research on DID and we literally have hit every single symptom in the DSM-5 so we're like 90% sure we're a DID system. But our alters really don't get the idea that maybe an assessment that wasn't even originally for DID might be wrong when it comes to trying to see if we have DID. I don't know what to do, I firmly believe it wasn't a intense statement because it was originally an assessment for another disorder and many systems have had to see multiple doctors before getting a diagnosis but I'm still worried. I'm scared we might never explore the idea of a diagnosis again..

[PT: Welcome! Please, take a seat.]

Assessments aren't 100% perfect for a few reasons: (1), the assessor may not fully understand the disorder (for example, believing that there's one specific type of trauma that may result in a CDD) and (2), they may not have the full scope of your symptoms, especially more covert ones. This does not mean assessments should be done away with completely, but it is worth keeping in mind.

Like you said, it can take a lot of time, effort, and money to get a proper diagnosis. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and even professionals are liable to fall victim to it. While they are a better source of information than the layman, getting the opinion of someone who specializes in dissociative disorders would be an even better one. If your dentist told you that you don't have arthritis, you'd want a second opinion from someone who specializes in that before knocking that off the list of what might be wrong.

[PT: The owner of this blog is anti-endo, anti-radqueer, and anti-proship. If you are a supporter of these, kindly do not interact!]

[sys-advice-corner]

How do you actually work on internal Communication? No not external journalling communication, purely internal!

How do you accept your parts? I have a hard time actually believing they're alters or etc

- @randomsystemthatsgay

[PT: Welcome! Please, take a seat.]

For internal communication, my system relies heavily on "communicator" parts to relay messages like a carrier pigeon or a town crier. I unfortunately don't fully understand how they work or came to be at the current state past coordinating with other parts who are able to communicate better with different groups/subsystems. However, different internal structures require different methods. Community advice is appreciated, as always.

Acceptance can be strongly linked to communication as well, with acceptance being able to lead to better communication. One way of handling denial may be simply being aware of your symptoms and how they have impacted you. This may solidify your experiences as a CDD, or it may lead you to a different conclusion entirely.

Meditation has helped us quite a bit with both, as tired advice as it may be.

[PT: The owner of this blog is anti-endo, anti-radqueer, and anti-proship. If you are a supporter of these, kindly do not interact!]

[sys-advice-corner]

Hey, do you have any advice on how to deal with denial? It's been really strong lately and my alters get quiet in those moments, so I just freak out. Thank you

[PT: Welcome! Please, take a seat.]

There are two things to keep in mind about denial:

This is a normal part of any CDD. In fact, it's a normal part of a lot of disorders. Look through diagnostic criteria, other people's experiences, your own previous interactions as parts, and the symptoms you present with. Reflect on how well you fit with that, and remember:

It's okay if you're wrong about your diagnosis (whether its self or professional diagnosis). People get it wrong sometimes. Look into differential/related diagnoses. Consider what other things it might be. Being wrong isn't the same as "faking" and it is not a bad thing.

I wish you the best of luck.

[PT: The owner of this blog is anti-endo, anti-radqueer, and anti-proship. If you are a supporter of these, kindly do not interact!]